Companies can show they support women "as equals to men" by letting staff watch Ireland’s World Cup matches during work.
HR expert Caroline Reidy is encouraging employers to screen Ireland’s World Cup campaign in the workplace, with the Girls in Green due to kick off tomorrow morning.
She told Newstalk Breakfast that employers typically offer workers a chance to take their lunches in line with game time when the men’s team of playing significant games – and it should be no different for the women.
"We've just had Pride month and we've done a huge amount supporting and heroing diversity," she said.
"Supporting the ladies is a definite, positive initiative.
"I don't think we'll grind to a halt; I don't think everyone will be watching the match, but, I do think it's important to show support and offer it as an option."
Supporting women
Ms Reidy said there is still a difference in the way society encourages men in sports compared to women.
"We've recently seen, for example, the female GAA players before the match looking for that equality and looking for that support," she said.
"I do think this is a really nice opportunity that doesn't need to be a huge effort for organisations to say, 'Look, we're behind the women as equal as we will be behind the men.'
"Small gestures in that regard would make a big difference."
For employers who are looking to encourage workplace equality, Ms Reidy said showing support for the women's team will help "keep that agenda to the forefront".
"I don't think it's going to impact productivity in any significant way by having that option available to people," she said.
Sexist comments
Ms Reidy said more organisations are doing proactive work to reduce the level of sexist comments and jokes in the workplace.
"Whether that's race, whether that's gender, or family status or any of the other equality grounds, we're starting to see people are getting more intolerant of unacceptable behaviour," she said.
"The important thing is, we're not just leaving it to the person who's receiving the behaviour [and] that everybody else is speaking up too."
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